The proposed house would be accessed by an existing bridge from the end of Frayslea, and the northern part of the island would remain untouched.

Residents in the area have already indicated that they plan to object to the new proposals. Their worry is that if this one house is approved on the land, it would set a precedent and lead to more. Last year's application was for two houses, and the applicant is the same, a Mr E Gavin.

Don MacNeil, 68, of Ferndale Crescent, said: "We will definitely be getting a petition up and running. There are foxes that live on that land and even eaglets that come down to the river.

"I'm surprised it took this long for an application to be resubmitted, to be honest.

"It is worrying because it does not make financial sense to the owners to buy the land and just build one house; more would surely follow."